Farmhouse Delivery Launches New Farm Membership Program
In an effort to create a sustainable revenue stream for local growers, Austin’s Farmhouse Delivery is launching a new seasonal farm membership.
Each bushel (available weekly or bi-weekly) will contain about 10 different types of all-local produce, including things like turnips, sweet potatoes, fennel, broccoli, greens, citrus and heirloom cauliflower, all delivered right to your door.
Running from November 2nd through December 21st, membership includes invitations to exclusive Rain Lily Farm events including demonstrations, dinners, cooking classes and more.
The deadline to sign up is October 30th, so better hurry!
Farmhouse Delivery Seasonal Bushel photo by Jody Horton, www.jodyhorton.com
Eat fresh, eat local – support your farmers!
An open letter to Henry Jackson, Aramark
The Texas Union and slavery
Henry Jackson
Director of Dining Services, Aramark
The Texas Union
PO Box 7338
Austin TX 78713
(512) 475-6500
Dear Mr. Jackson:
As concerned students, alumni, and community members, we urge Aramark to follow the recent example set by the Compass Group North America in working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to eliminate human rights violations in its tomato supply chain.
According to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, “the norm is a disaster, and the extreme is slavery” for tomato harvesters in Florida’s fields. The tomato picking piece rate has remained stagnant since 1980. A worker today must pick and haul roughly two and a half tons of tomatoes to earn minimum wage for a typical ten-hour day. These wages – combined with the precarious and seasonal nature of farm labor – result in workers’ sub-poverty annual earnings and create an environment where horrific forms of labor abuse flourish.
In the extreme, workers face situations of forced labor. The CIW – a Florida-based worker organization leading the movement to reform the state’s farm labor relations – has aided the Department of Justice in the successful prosecution of six modern-day slavery cases involving more than one thousand farmworkers in the past decade. Fifteen farm labor supervisors are currently serving sentences in federal prison as a result of these slavery prosecutions.
On September 25, the CIW and Compass Group North America announced sweeping changes to improve tomato harvesters’ wages and working conditions. Compass is the first major food-service provider to join Yum Brands, McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Whole Foods Market and Bon Appetit Management Company in partnering with the CIW to address the human rights crisis in Florida’s fields.
Now we turn to Aramark. Your company claims to “conduct business with the utmost integrity and according to the highest ethical standard… working hard to continuously improve [its] actions.” With news of the Compass agreement, Aramark can no longer claim that it meets the highest ethical standards. We expect that your company will follow suit and establish an agreement with the CIW with all due diligence to demand those same higher standards of its tomato suppliers. Until that time, however, we have no choice but to intensify our educational efforts to inform the campus and community of Aramark’s role in prolonging Florida’s harvest of shame.
Sincerely,
Members and Supporters of Fair Food Austin
Square-foot gardening at greatstems.com
Meredith over at Great Stems has put together an excellent series of posts about vegetable families, square-foot gardening and companion plants, complete with a 3-year rotation plan for organic vegetables. Check it out..
Square-foot gardening at greatstems.com
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URGENT! Need for CLEAN Water for the Homeless in Austin, Texas
From Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Inc.
July 06, 2009
30 People Delivering Water to #Homeless In ATX From Their Cars. Can You Help?
We have a small army of folks delivering water from their own vehicles to the people who find themselves living on the streets of Austin, Texas. Empowering people to serve in this way can really avert a disaster. Dehydration can lead to some pretty devastating health issues. The heat index in Austin is consistently 105 degrees and higher and puts all of us at high risk to dehydration particularly the homeless. Here is how you can become a part of this growing army:
- We have an unlimited supply of water and ice at our commissary in West Lake Hills (www.mlfnow.org/directions). If you come tonight (July 6) at 6:30 PM you can be trained on how to access those supplies at your convenience. All you need is an ice chest and your own vehicle. If this time does not work for you let us know and we will accommodate your schedule, or
- You can simply go purchase your own water to hand out. I have seen case prices at around $3.77 per case. Even if the water is not iced down it makes a big difference. Water is water regardless of the temperature and provides fluid to our internal cooling system. So just load up your car and hand water out to anyone who you see along the way that is in need.
Roasted Beet Salad
Roasted heritage beets from Montesino, carrots and spring onions over arugula with balsamic vinaigrette, raw milk Morbier and toasted nuts. Based on a recipe included with today’s bushel from Austin’s Farmhouse Delivery..
Trim, peel and dice fresh beets (including some of the tops), carrots and spring onions. Toss in olive oil, season with S&P and roast in a 400 degree oven until caramelized, about 15 minutes. Allow to cool somewhat.
Meanwhile, toast coarsley chopped nuts (such as pecans and pistachios) in a dry skillet. Set aside.
Trim, rinse and dry fresh arugula and spinach. Toss lightly in aged balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
To assemble salad, mound greens on a chilled plate, top with warm roasted vegetables, toasted nuts and cheese. Drizzle a little more vinaigrette over the top.
What’s in the works this week
I’m sure that most of you are aware of the many benefits of fermented food. If not, I suggest that you add The Nourished Kitchen to your bookmarks.
Starting with one jar of real yoghurt separated into its component whey and yoghurt cheese..
Lacto-fermented salsa (fresh red and yellow tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, cilantro, salt, spices and whey). Now, here’s the kicker.. in 3 months, lacto-fermented salsa will still look, smell and taste exactly as it did on the day it was made.
Another batch of fermented ketchup, a jar of concentrated chili base (ancho, guajillo, New Mexico, cumin, cinnamon and salt) and a jar of mango cream cheese spread (fresh mango, yoghurt cheese and salt), all for about 10 bucks.
